NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Raleigh 1976

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
LPD1	Raleigh		New York N Yd, Brooklyn	23.6.1960	17.3.1962	8.9.1962	stricken 1.1992
LPD2	Vancouver		New York N Yd, Brooklyn	19.11.1960	15.9.1962	11.5.1963	stricken 4.1997
LPD3, 7.1972- AGF3	La Salle		New York N Yd, Brooklyn	2.4.1962	3.8.1963	22.2.1964	flagship 7.1972, stricken 5.2005

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	8051
Displacement full, t	13745
Length, m	152.4 wl 156.4 oa
Breadth, m	25.6
Draught, m	6.30
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets De Laval geared steam turbines, 2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers
Power, h. p.	24000
Max speed, kts	21
Fuel, t	oil
Endurance, nm(kts)
Armament	4 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 33, helicopter deck
Military load	932 troops, (1 LCU + 3 LCM(6)) or 4 LCM(8) or 20 LVT, 2 LCM(6) or 4 LCPL
Electronic equipment	SPS-10, SPS-40, 2x Mk 34 radars
Complement	501

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

These ships were intended as successors to die Landing Ship Dock with much increased troop (930, 840 in flagships) and cargo (about 2500t) capacity and a smaller well deck (51.2x15.2m), accommodating one LCU and three LCM-6 or four LCM-8 or twenty LVT; in addition there was a large crane at the after end of the superstructure which can launch craft carried on the flight deck, typically two LCM-6 or four LCPL. The Raleighs had no helicopter hangar or maintenance facilities, but ships after the Austin (LPD 4) have a hangar 17.7-19.5m in length and 5.6-7.3m in width, extensible to about 24.5m. The deck has two helicopter spots, but ships have deployed with up to six CH-46 embarked.

The two classes differ in that the Austins were somewhat enlarged. La Salle (LPD3) was reclassified as a flagship (AGF3) for the Middle East Force, undergoing conversion during 1972. She received a small helicopter hangar and covered assembly area on her flight deck, as well as a lattice mast for a satellite communications antenna, and admiral's accommodation, plus additional air conditioning. She was painted white to help reduce heating m the Indian Ocean. The LPD Coronado served as Middle East Flagship (AGF11 vice LPD11) while La Salle underwent a major refit from 1980 to 1982.

LPD7-13 were fitted as amphibious squadron flagships and had an extra bridge level. A proposed LPD16, to have been built under the FY66 programme, was deferred in favour of the LHA programme then cancelled in 1969. The other LPDs were built under the FY59 (prototype), FY60 (1), FY61 (1), FY62 (3), FY63 (4), FY64 (3) and FY65 (2) programmes.

Modernizations

1972, La Salle: + hangar (1 small helicopter like UH-1) and other changes while rebuilt as AGF

1977-1978, all: - 1 x 2 - 76/50, 2x Mk 34 radars

early 1980s, all: + SLQ-32(v)1 ECM suite, 4x SRBOC Mk 36 decoy RL

late 1980s, Raleigh, La Salle: - 3 x 2 - 76/50; + 2 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, 2x Mk 90 radars

late 1980s, Vancouver: - 1 x 2 - 76/50; + 2 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, 2x Mk 90 radars

1990s, La Salle: + 2 x 1 - 25/75 Mk 38 Bushmaster, 2 x 1 - 12.7/90, SPS-64 radar, SLQ-25 torpedo decoy

Naval service

No significant events.